So, some 13 months after it was revealed, publicly, for the first time that the Long Beach State men’s basketball program was being investigated for possible NCAA rules violations, the program and the school’s administration is on the verge of something they’ve been longing for on the matter:

Closure.

Today the school is scheduled to receive the NCAA Committee on Infractions report on its findings culled from the NCAA’s Enforcement office and the school’s investigation into the allegations of violations allegedly committed almost three years ago.

By most accounts, the school administrators acted swiftly and thoroughly during their end of the investigation after members of the NCAA’s Enforcement staff contacted them in October of 2006 concerning allegations they had received.

Did the self-imposed sanctions the school put on the program now being run by Dan Monson satisfy the members of the Committee on Infractions as being appropriate for the violations committed by coaches no longer employed by the school?

Was not rehiring a coach (Larry Reynolds) and his staff during whose stint the violations occurred, even after the 49ers won 24 games and played in the NCAA Tournament last March, a “proactive” move by the school that had some impact with the committee members as they considered the Long Beach case and what other sanctions would be doled out?

The school finds out today.

Once Long Beach administrators and Monson are able to comment on the report (and that isn’t going to be until Thursday, when the NCAA releases it to the public), look for this word to be used more than once:

Closure.

And, even though the NCAA has an appeals process for schools (and coaches and athletes) to use if they don’t agree with the ruling and subsequent sanctions by the Committee on Infractions, there almost assuredly will be a sense of relief by many whose lives have been touched by this issue who will be only too happy to try to put it behind them as soon as possible.

College stuff

The All-Pacific 10 Conference teams, as selected by the head coaches, are going to have a different look when they are released next week prior to the Wednesday start of the conference tournament at the Staples Center.

Per the request of the coaches during a conference meeting last spring, the old format for the All-Pac 10 team – usually 10 players, including Player of the Year – has been scrapped in exchange for one in which there will be more “all-conference” selections, per se.

But those will be broken down into five-player groups of first, second and third teams, with the Player of the Year being a member of the first team.

Coaches will have to reveal their choices for the top 15 players in the conference (excluding their players) and the teams will be broken up by vote totals.

Coaches will also select (during a Monday conference call) a five-player All-Freshman squad, including a Freshman of the Year, and a five-member All-Defense team, with, naturally, a Defensive Player of the Year.

Certainly, what takes place on the final Thursday and Saturday of the regular season could impact both Player of the Year and all-conference voting.

Player of the Year? I would give it to either Love or Lopez, with the Stanford at UCLA game Thursday night that could decide (if the Bruins win it) the conference title, as well as the Cardinal’s game at USC on Saturday and the Bruins’ vs. Cal, being the elements that will push my decision in either direction.

Former Long Beach State player Kevin Cutler (1989-91) and now college referee (as well as Compton Unified School District teacher) has been chosen to officiate during the Big Sky Tournament semifinals and final that will be held on the campus of regular-season champion Portland State, March 11-12.

Games to check out

Tonight: Tennessee at Florida (6/ESPN Full Court/The Volunteers want a No. 1 seed, the two-time defending national champions want to get into the tournament, period), Texas A&M at Baylor (6/ESPN2/Aggies, once ranked in the Top 10, have lost four of five to fall to 7-7 in the Big 12 and at-large hopes are getting wobbly; these teams went five overtimes, with the Bears prevailing, 116-110, when they played in College Station on Jan. 23).

Thursday: Arizona State at Oregon (5:30/ESPN Fullcourt/The Ducks need this for bid purposes only slightly more than the Sun Devils), Xavier at Saint Joseph’s (6/ESPN/Xavier could get a No. 2 seed and could get to Final Four) and Stanford at UCLA (8/Fox Sports Net/Not much on the line in this one, is there?).

High school hoopla

Best in the West selections Demar DeRozan (Compton), Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall), Jerime Anderson (Anaheim Canyon), Drew Gordon (San Jose Mitty) and Malcolm Lee (Riverside JW North) were selected to represent the USA against the World Select team during the 11th Nike Hoops Summit on April 12 in the Portland Rose Garden.

If you’re not going to be in town, don’t worry: The game will be televised by the Fox Sports Network.

DeRozan, Holiday and Lee will also play for the West team during the McDonald’s All-American Game in Milwaukee on March 26. ESPN is televising it.

The fifth Southern California Hoop Review will be held March 29 at Lynwood High and at Biola University the following day.

It’s open to traveling teams or individual players of high school age (including current seniors). For more information, contact Gerry Freitas at 408/998-1327 or gerryfreitas@hotmail.com.

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